Every month, we like to pick one book to recommend. We select books that have characters, themes, settings, and cultural relevance to people in their 20s. This month, that book is Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid.
Malibu Rising Summary
Malibu Rising follows the four Riva siblings and delves into their origin. We’re first introduced to Nina Riva, the oldest of the four siblings and a world-famous model living in Malibu. We’re subsequently introduced to Jay and Hud, brothers and best friends involved in the surfing scene, and Kit, the youngest daughter. All four are living in Malibu, and they’re widely known for being the face of SoCal surfing in the 1980s. They’re also known for throwing the best annual party in all of LA. Think Gatsby-level parties with all the celebrities from the 1980s. The story jumps between the hours leading up to their famous party and the ill-fated romance of their parents, June and Mick Riva. These two have a romance that goes up in flames, leaving Nina to take care of her siblings.
Simultaneously, Nina runs the Pacific Fish Restaurant, her family’s old seaside restaurant. Between modelling, surfing, and divorcing her (horrible) tennis player husband, she’s overwhelmed. Then we have Jay and Hud, brothers who are feuding over the same woman. Finally, Kit, who wants to prove herself and figure out her identity. All four are struggling in their own ways, all trying to prove themselves and escape their pasts. Everything crashes together for this family during the infamous party. Secrets, celebrities, drama, and 80s references abound in this fantastic novel.
Malibu Rising Review + Rating
I initially thought this book would be overhyped. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I ended up loving Malibu Rising and I finished it in only a few sittings. Because of that, I would give it a 5/5 stars (a rarity for me).
As someone who lives in Southern California, I loved the author’s depiction of the setting. It felt very authentic, especially with the focus on fire meeting water. I can’t think of a better vision of what Southern California is, and Reid tells the story with such beautiful language. It’s not only a depiction of a family life; it’s a depiction of a time, a society, a place, and a people. The story grabs you and pulls you into it immediately.
I also enjoyed the fact that Reid gave each character equitable focus. She didn’t necessarily favor Nina; each main character received some TLC and grew by the end. That brings me to what I liked.
What I Liked
If I’m being honest, I liked almost everything about this book. It was like an East of Eden that I actually liked, and with much better voice. It also captured a time and a place that was much more fascinating to me, and this is perhaps what I enjoyed most about the author’s writing. She traces Malibu from the 1950s through the 1980s, staying true to the small details of each period, and it all feels so real. The characters are well fleshed out, too. We’ve all read about the alcoholic/Xanax type mom from the 60s and 70s, but Reid gave us depth with June. With Mick, she gave us more than just a philandering husband. Pitfalls that I see so often in writing were avoided well.
Then there were the questions at the center of it all, one of which I adored: are we doomed to take after our parents, or do we have that free will? Again, it took me back to the idea of timshel in East of Eden, but I loved Reid’s exploration of this. Is Mick his father? Is Hud his? Are June and Nina that similar? Are they all doomed to end up in the same situations and dynamics as their parents? It offers reflection for all readers as well, although their life experiences are unlikely to be as dramatic as that of the Rivas.
Finally, there was the plot. While it wasn’t too much of an edge-of-your-seat type book, I did enjoy the twists and turns and the satisfying resolution. It felt very genuine and not too melodramatic, and that provides for a fantastic book. Because of this balance alone, I’d recommend it.
What I Didn’t Like
I’ve never been a fan of shifting POV, and this book didn’t change my mind. The book is divided into two main parts: the day leading up to the party and the duration of the party. For the first part, the POV shifts weren’t too severe. During the party, however, I felt as though I was being jerked around a lot. We jumped from our main characters to minor characters, and I still can’t figure out the reason for this. Additionally, the pacing wasn’t my favorite. It wasn’t necessarily bad, and I saw the purpose, but it didn’t seem 100% symmetrical. All of Mick and June’s story was frontloaded, and I did think that it could be spaced out more to build anticipation. Either doing that or having more parallel connections might have been nice, but that’s just my personal taste. Overall, these are small complaints.
Recommended For People Who Like
- Contemporary fiction
- Literary fiction
- Family stories
- Books with 20-somethings
- Historical fiction
- Modern Gatsby vibes
- Shifting POV
- Rags to riches
- Complicated family dynamics
A Final Word
This was my first book by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and it certainly won’t be my last. I’ve heard that Mick Riva (the horrible rock star father figure) appears in multiple other books, and I love the idea of a Taylor Jenkins Reid-verse. Most of all, however, I loved that this book captured a day in the life of a dysfunctional family. I find that young adult characters (<26) aren’t always portrayed in the most holistic manner, and Reid most certainly does that for each character. If you’re looking for something to do this summer, I’d definitely recommend this book!
